Due to its proximity to Toronto, Canada, and its location along Lake Erie, Buffalo, New York is a destination for illegal drug trafficking and distribution.
Recent headlines speak to the level of illicit drug activity in the Buffalo, New York, area:
- January 2013: As a result of a DEA investigation, nine Buffalo residents were arrested for their part in a drug ring, which involved mailing methamphetamines and cocaine through the U.S. Postal Service.
- June 2011: More than 200 police officers from all over Western New York took down the notorious and one of the most violent gangs in Buffalo. The DEA led the raids, as this gang was operating a major drug distribution ring involving the transport of cocaine from Ohio to Buffalo. It is reported that 17 gang members were arrested for these crimes.
- June 2011: Ten individuals were arrested on Buffalo’s East side on charges stemming from narcotics trafficking, including the distribution of crack cocaine in Buffalo. It is estimated that, between 2010 and 2011, there were more than 75 kilograms of cocaine distributed, with a street value of $2.3 million.
How to Become a DEA Agent in Buffalo by Meeting Agency Requirements
Many seek Buffalo DEA careers, although this governmental agency accepts only a select few based on a rigorous testing process and strict minimum requirements. In addition to eligible candidates for DEA agent careers being between the ages of 21 and 36 and being United States citizens with valid driver’s licenses, all individuals must expect to take and pass a number of employment tests, including a background investigation, a drug test, a polygraph examination, and a psychological assessment.
Further, all candidates for special agent DEA jobs must possess a bachelor’s, master’s, LLB, or JD degree and/or extensive, related experience in such areas as undercover operations, surveillance; and drug-related work.
Individuals without prior experience and who want to learn how to become a DEA agent in Buffalo through training must work to achieve, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree with either a minimum 2.9 GPA or at least three years of specialized knowledge in accounting, maritime/pilot, engineering, telecommunications, or a foreign language.